Central Ohio – Wildlife District One
While patrolling Buckeye Lake State Park, State Wildlife Officer Antoinette Freet, assigned to Licking County, contacted two anglers as they were leaving the area. She observed both individuals leave trash on the bank of Buckeye Lake. Summonses were issued for the litter violation and each was ordered to pay $285 in fines and court costs.
State Wildlife Officer Austin Levering, assigned to Knox County, participated in the annual Casting for Recovery retreat in September as a fly fishing guide. The retreat is for women in treatment or recovery from breast cancer, connecting women to nature through the therapeutic sport of fly fishing. Officer Levering taught participants how to fly fish, and individuals caught bluegills and largemouth bass.
Northwest Ohio – Wildlife District Two
During the 2024 white-tailed deer gun hunting season, State Wildlife Officer Ethan Bingham, assigned to Williams County, received a report of individuals hunting without permission. Officer Bingham responded to the area and contacted the suspects. He found that the suspects had shot a deer on the property and drove their vehicles into the field to retrieve the deer. Four suspects were issued a total of seven summonses for hunting without permission, hunting with the aid of a motor vehicle, and taking deer with an unlawful firearm. The four suspects paid a total of $1,824 in fines and court costs. The deer was seized as evidence.
Recently, Van Wert County Soil and Water Conservation District held the first annual Not Just Cows and Plows event at the Van Wert County Fairgrounds for fourth graders from local school districts. State Wildlife Officers Nolan Johnson and Levi Farley, assigned to Van Wert and Paulding counties, respectively, as well as Outdoor Skills Specialist Jaron Beck, taught students the basics of fishing and archery. Several students had never fished or shot a bow. Approximately 250 students attended and had a great time practicing their skills!
Northeast Ohio – Wildlife District Three
State Wildlife Officer Matt Madgar, assigned to Geauga County, received several calls regarding a bus that appeared to be abandoned at Auburn Marsh Wildlife Area. During his investigation, Officer Madgar tracked down a previous owner of the bus in California, which enabled him to contact the current owner of the bus. The individual arranged to have the bus removed from the wildlife area in a timely fashion.
State Wildlife Officer Aaron Brown, assigned to Wayne County, observed an individual toss something out of a vehicle window while the car was stopped at a traffic light. Shortly after, Officer Brown observed another litter violation from the same individual and stopped to collect the trash. Officer Brown then observed the same vehicle and individual at a gas station and stopped to contact the suspect. He issued a summons for the violation, and after missing a court date the suspect paid the guilty waiver of $164.50 through Wayne County Municipal Court.
Southeast Ohio – Wildlife District Four
In September, State Wildlife Officer Kiri Williams, assigned to Vinton County, and State Wildlife Officer Cole Tilton, assigned to Guernsey County, received a report of a suspicious white-tailed deer harvest from the 2024-25 season. The officers contacted a suspect and discovered the suspect had game checked a deer for another individual in the 2024-25 season and did not have a permit. The suspect did not want to provide the officers with the name of the person who harvested the deer. The suspect was charged for aiding a wildlife offender and falsifying information on a deer permit. The individual was ordered to pay $224 in fines and $220 in court costs in Vinton County Court.
Southwest Ohio – Wildlife District Five
During the spring of 2025, State Wildlife Officer Matt Roberts, assigned to Highland County, was notified of three turkey carcasses that had been dumped along the bank of a creek. Officer Roberts located a suspect and further investigation revealed the individual dumped the carcasses. The suspect was charged with stream litter and paid $230 in fines and court costs.
State Wildlife Officer Andrew Dowdell, assigned to Butler County, responded to a call concerning a great horned owl that was tangled in a lacrosse net. Officer Dowdell visited the residence and freed the owl from the net. The owl was unharmed and released nearby. During the rescue, Officer Dowdell noticed the owl was banded and traced the owl’s band back to the Great Parks of Hamilton County.
